Anger at £80billion of empty UK homes

CAMPAIGNERS reacted angrily after research revealed homes worth almost £80billion now sit empty across the UK.

There are 341,419 properties across England, Scotland and Wales which have been vacant for at least six months, but are typically empty for at least a year.

Freedom of Information requests, analysed by insurance company Admiral, found the majority are in England where 268,385 houses are vacant, worth £66.8billion.

The City of London has the highest proportion, where 42.4 in every 1,000 homes have been empty for at least six months.

Frustrating

Cheshire West and Chester has the highest amount of longer-term vacant houses in England, collectively valued at £349,230,000.

Polly Neate, head of housing charity Shelter, said: “It’s extremely frustrating to see so many empty properties when so many people are in desperate need of a safe and secure home.”

Noel Summerfield, of Admiral Home Insurance, added: “The government and local councils have the power to make it tougher for the owners of these empty houses to keep them uninhabited, so hopefully we’ll see a decrease in vacant houses in the future.”